Metering panel board



1 643,784 Sept A. c. MCWILLIAMS METERIN G PANEL BOARD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 28. 1922 .7 2 B mw\ F, A u V 8 f s D h M 6 e W M m m Wm M w 14 m 1/ a fl M w m j m v M n Q h ,w@ @@m@@ w fifiw H flu 6 3 AVE 0 W o w p f $33333 1 to meters.

Patented Sept. 27, 1927,

UNITED STATES PATN'E Price.

ARTHUR C. MGWILLIAMS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNDB TO 'iVESlINGHOUlSE ELEC- TRIO & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

.. METERING IEANEL BOAR-1).

Application. filed October 28, 1922. Serial No. 597,520.

My invention relates to metering panel boards of the general class employed in office buildings or apartment hotel buildings for affording the convenient connecting of consumption circuits in any desired groupings Panel boards have heretofore been employed for this purpose in a variety of forms, including types employing conductors extending transversely of each other and having the relatively transverse conduc tors adapted tobe connected interchangeably with each other by means of plug connectors or the like, in which case the multiplicity of conducting elements thus employed .has involved an undesirably high cost. They have also been employed in forms which required the various detach able connections tobe made at least in part from the back of the board, thus increasing the difficulty and the time required for making any changes in such connections; also in forms requiring the detachable connections to cross other conductors. thus affording the risk of short-circuits if the changes were made while the conductors are alive and also presenting a resulting net work of wires which made it difficult to determine which of the consumption circuits were connected to each meter. Furthermore. the panel boards as heretofore employed for this general purpose require an undesirably great width, as the space for such boards is usually restricted to parts of the building in which the available width is quite limited.

My present invention aims'to overcome all of the above namedobjections to the types heretofore in common use and aims to do so by providing an arrangement or arrangemerits which will be exceedingly simple to manufacture, in which all of the changeable connections can readily be made from the face of the board, in which the interchangeable connections to the meters can readily be made by means of straps of standard size and without having any conductors cross one another, and in which a glance at the panel board will readily tell which of the consumption circuits are 4 connected to each meter. Furthermore, my inventionaims to provide an arrangement forthis purpose which will readily lend itself to the lateral compactness demanded by the space usually available for such panel boards,- and one which will be both simple in constrncticn and manipulation and low in cost of manufacture and installation. It also aims to provide a construction which will readily lend itself to a variety of embodiments. Still further and also more detailed objects will appear from the following specification and from the accompanying drawings, in

which 1 is a partly diagrammatic elevation showing a three-wire panel board embodying my invention as designed for interchangeably connecting twelve consumption circuits to six or less meters. and showing a typical 1 set of connections as employed in distributing these twelve consumption circuits over four meters.

Fig. 2 is a smaller view showing another Fig. 4 is a rather diagrammatic view of another 8 circuit panel board embodying my invention but having meter terminals consisting mainly of bars extending diagonally of the rows of fusible'devicesf Fig. 5 is anotherdiagrammatic view, corresponding to one half of the main portion of the panel board of Fig. 1, but having another grouping of the fusible devices and. meter bars.

Fig. 6 is another diagrammatic view of one half of a panelboard, showing an embodiment employing simple posts instead of bars as meter terminals.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken along the line VII-VII of Fig. 1. V

In my copending application No. 467.801 on a metering panel board, asfiled May9, 1921, I have shown a panel board in which the meter terminals are disposed in two parallel rows flanked on either side by the consumption circuit devices. the latter being disposed in pairs with the two fusible devices for each circuit disposed laterallyof each other, the arrangement being such that con 'necting'st-raps of a standard size can be used interchangeably for affording the various cir can groupings sons to connect any, desired consum' tion circuits to "any parse-lilac meter.

While tie panelboard as thus diseased. has:

' =nut34, threaded on a pin which projec 1 any holes in the latter and without involi V t l board and medially thereof are meter bars, which bars are here .i

architects for such purposes.

, My present invention. overcomes the object ons ust cited by disposing the fusible devices fiSSOClRlIGCl w1th each consumption cir- ;cuit ertically above one another, or in-a row parallel to the rows of meter terminals,

and by exposing the consumption circuit ter-- minals of these fusible deyices near the edges ofthe panel board so that the ,wire connections can readily be made on the facing of thebpard without feeding the 'WllGS thr v the expense 'requiredzfor boring such holes.

Furthermore, my present inventionprovides for a disposition of the meter terminals which can be employed equally well in embodir nentshaving metering bars adapted to be Connected interchangeably, toeach other or to certain of the consumption circuit deviceshy straps of a length uniform with th required for connecting adjacent terminals of thet fusible devices with each other; or in embodiments in which strips of different lengrthstare employed respectively for the connections between adjacent terminals of the fusible devices, the connections betwv i the meterterminals and fusible devices, and the connections between meter terminals.

Illustrative of my invention, 3, Fig. 1 shows an embodiment in which a base board 1, desirably of slate, forms the support or insulating base of the panel board. Extending longitudinally of this l SQl'ltS of iown as c isvposed in two parallel rows alined respectively with a positive bus bar 3;2 and a nega tire. husbar 33. Each of the ineter bars (which are heredesignated respectively as .B, C 1), E, and F) l a at each end a suitable connectingportion,such as a clan iping forwardly from the meter bar and these connecting portionspn each meter bar aredesira-blyspaced from each other by three times the uni formr center-to-center dist rte be tween the ,fusible deyices which are respecassocizited with the various consumption 'irc'uitssimplify the tracing of these consumption circuits the two, fusible de ces associated with each such circuit are ably consecutive, sOI that each meter bar t pp site a group of fourfusible prising the two pairs of such devices respectively controlling two consump- .011 the meterterminal opposite that group.

while the second and third fusible device of each group of four has its corresponding ter minal perm an-ently connected to a neutral bus bar lYPextending along theback of the board behind the entire row fusible devices. All of the fusible devices in the same row havetheir consumption circuit ter'n inals28 exposed, on the face of the "board and desirably close to one edge of the latter, so that the connections to the corresponding circuit wires can readily be made bysimply bringing the wires out over that edgeof the board afterthe manner shown in dotted lines at 19 these consumption circuit wires having been omitted from the drawing as a whole to avoid confusion, Each of the polarity terminals 16 of the said first and fourth fusible devices of each group includes a clamping nut 17 threaded on a forwardly projecting stem 18, and the stems 18 are desirably spaced :t'rom'the nut-carrying stems 15, on the meter bars by the same center-to-ce'nter dictanceas that between the centers of consecutive fusible devices in the same row. Likewise, the two rows of meter bars also desir ably have the same center-to-center spacing. owin to this uniformity of the spacing between the various interchangeably connecta'ble parts, asingle standard size of strap connector will serve equally well for any one of the four connnon. purposes namely as'a strap 20 for'connecting a meter bar with a polarity terminal laterally adjacent there- 'to, as a strap 2l for connecting the fourth v aolarity terminal of any group with the first polarity terminal of the next group, as a strap 22 for connecting two consecutive meter bars in the same row or a strap2-3 for connecting twolaterally adjacentmeter bars. Consequently. my simple arrangement readily permits such connector straps to be used interchangeably for connectin t "e consumption circuits in any desired groupings to the meters. Thus Fi 1 shows c rcuits 1. 2 and 8 connected to the meter A11, circuits 4, 5 and 6 to the meter CC; circuits 7 8- 9., 10, and 11 to the meter EE; and circuit 12 alone to the meter FF. In this case}v the circuits at each side of the panel board are all connected to the meter panelsin the row at the same side of the beard," and only one totailiz'er strap 22 is used between consecutive meter bars in the same row.

Likewise,' in Fig. 2, the meter bars A or D are both connected to the circuits 1, 2, 7 and 8 meter bar B is connected to circuits 3, 4 and 5; meter bar G to circuit 6 only; and

meter bars 'E and F are both connected to circuits 9, 10, 11 and'12.

However, while I have heretofore described embodiments employing highly de sirable features of construction and arrangement, I do not wish to be limited to the same, since various modifications might obviously be made without departing either from the spiritojt my invention or from theappended claims. For example, Fig. 4 shows an embodiment in which every alternate fusible device in each row presents a polarity terminal inwardly of the panel, in which these polarity terminals in the two rows are relatively staggered, and in which the meter terminals consist partly of bars 41 disposed obliquely of the said rows and partly of simple posts 42. In this case it will he evident from the dotted lines indicating some suggested groupings that connector straps of a single standard length can be employed for a large variety of groupings of the consumption circuits.

Moreover, my invention may also beemployed without having all of the connector straps of thesame length, as for example atter the manner of Figs. 5 and 6. In Fig. 5, the meterhars also extend parallel to the row of fusible devices, and the latter alternate in presenting polarityterminals toward themeter bars, while these meter bars are of such a. length that the same standard straps 1 will serve for connecting polarity terminals with each other or with meter bars. However, a different length of connector would be required as a totalizer strap between the meter bars in the same row.

InFig. 6, the meter terminals consist of simple posts each located equidistant from two polarity terminals, and two standard lengths of straps will suffice for connecting adjacent polarity terminals to each' other and for connecting any polarity terminal to the nearest meter terminal.

In each of these embodiments it will be evident that the consumption circuit terminals are all conveniently close to the edges of.

thepanel board; that the changeable connections all can readily be made upon the face of the board and with straps ofstandard lengths; that a glance at the board will show which consumption circuits are connected to any particular meter bar; and that the general arrangement requires only a comparatively small width of board.

I claim as my invention 1. In a metering panel board, two rows of circuit-controlling devices each composed of consecutive groups of four, each group of four comprising two pairs of devices associated with two consumption circuits, all of the devices presenting their consumptioncircuit terminals towards the outer sides of the rows, one device of each pair presenting its other terminal as a polarity terminal at the inner sides of the rows, a supply circuit pair, meter terminals at the inner side of the rows and each respectively opposite one group of the devices, and detachable straps for interchangeably connecting any meter terminal with either of the polarity terminals of the pairs of devices of the group opposite that terminal.

2. In a metering panel hoard, two rows of circuit-controlling devices composed of consecutive groups of four, each group of four comprising two pairs of devicesassociated with two consumption circuits, all of the devices presenting their consumption circuit terminals towards the outer side of the rows, one fusible device of each pair presenting its other terminal as a. polarity terminal at the inner sides of the rows, a supply-circuit conductor connected to the other or supply-circuit terminal of the other device of each pair, meter terminals at the inner side of the rows and each respectively opposite one group of the devices, and detachable straps for interchangeably connecting any meter terminal with each of the polarity terminals of the devices of the group opposite that terminal and with one another, the meter.

cuit cont-rolling devices composed of consecutive groups of four, each group of four comprising two pairs of devices associated with .two' consumption circuits, all of the devices presenting their consumption circuit terminals towards one side of the row, the first and fourth device or each group presenting their'other terminals as polarity terminals at the other side of the row, a supply circuit conductor connected to the other or supply terminals of the second and third device of each group, meter terminals'at the said other side ofthe row and each respectively opposite one group of the devices, and-detachable straps for interchangeably connecting any meter terminal with the polarity terminal of either the first or the fourth device of the group opposite that terminal.

5. In a metering panel board, a row of circuit-controlling devices composed of consecutive groups of four, each group of four comprising two pairs of devices associated with two consumption circuits, all of the devices presenting their consumption-circuit terminals towards one side of the row, the first and fourth device of each group pre;

'senting' their other terminals as polarity ter-,

'minals at the other side of the row, a supply-circuit conductor connected to the other or supply terminals of the second and third device ofeachgroup, meter terminals at the said other side of the row and each respectively opposite one group of the devices, and detachable straps for interchangeably conneetingany meter terminal with the polarity terminal-of either the list or the fourth device of the group opposite that terminal, the meter terminals being in a row parallel to the aforesaid row and spaced from the polarity terminals a distance equal to the distance between the meter terminals.

6. A metering panel'as specified in claim 4, in combination with detachable straps for interchangeably connecting the polarity terminal of the iourthd'eviceof any group with the polarity terminal or the first device of the next group.

7. A metering panel. as specified in :claim 1, in combination with totalizer straps for interchangeably connecting consecutive meter terminals with one another.

. 8. A metering panel as specified in claim 1,- in which the said members are all mounted on an insulating board with the circuit 80. terminalsof all or the devices adjacent to conductor is disposed behind the heard.

one edge of the board, and in which the said 9. A panel board comprising an insulating base, two parallel rows of consumption circuit controlling devices all having their consumption circuit terminals extending "laterally'outward of the said rows, the devices associated with each consumption circuit being consecutive, a neutral bus bar con nected to the neutral terminal. of one of each such pair of devices, the other device of each .pair having its polarity terminal extending laterally inward of the said rows, meter terminals disposed between the aforesaid rows, and detachable connectors for connecting the meter terminals and the polarity terminals of the devices with one another.

10. A metering panel board as specified in claim 9, in which the meter terminals are disposed in two rows between and parallel to the aforesaid rows of clei ices,'eacli meter terminal being'eflectively spaced by the same distance from the meter terminal parallel thereto and from the polarity terminals laterally opposite thereto.

11. A metering panel board as specified in claim 9, in which the meter terminal memto the center to center disposed in two rows between and parallel to the aforesaid rows ofdevices, eachmeter terminal comprising a bar corresponding substantially in length, to the space'occupied by two consecutive pairs of the devices, and having a pair or connectingportions respectively opposite the inwardly directed polarity terminals or the devices comprising the two pairs. 1

13. The combination ivith a distributing panel having two rows ofcircuit controlling devices each divided in groups of four, the end devices of each group being provided with polarity terminals extending between the rows and spaced apart a distance equal to the center to centerdistance between the devices, of two rows of separate metering terminals between. the rows of devices each having attaching ,means for connectors equidistantly spaced from similar means on adjacent-meter terminals and from the said polarity terminals whereby the meter terminals may be connected to'one another onto a polarity terminal by an' interchangeable connector or predetermined length.

14. The. combination with a distributing panel having two rows of circuit-controlling devices each divided 'in groups of four, the end'devices ofieach group being provided with polarity terminals extending between the rows and spaced apart a distance equal distance between the devices, 'of'two was of separate meteringterminals between the rows of devices each having attaching means, the said means on each of four adjacent meter terminals being disposed in the corners of a square, having sidesequa'l in length to the distance be- LVN-Belt the said. means and an adjacent polarity terminal and between two adjacent polarity terminals, and nterchangeable connectors for eonnectin g'th e meter terminals,

the polarity terminals or the former with the latter.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, October 25,

1922. I a a ARTHUR C. MCWILLIAMS, 

